Food

5 tips to plan the best picnic menu

Food

5 tips to plan the best picnic menu

When the weather is warm, what's better than a picnic to enjoy the outdoors? If you're not sure how to plan your menu, follow these simple tips for a fail-safe and absolutely delicious outdoor celebration.
1.
Get organized: Make sure you know how many people will be attending and if they have any dietary restrictions. This will allow you to properly plan the type and quantity of food you'll need to bring. Keep in mind that people won't have a full serving of everything if there is a lot to choose from, but rather a sample of what's available.
2. Pretty and green: For easy packaging, reusable containers like lightweight enamel plates, thermoses and mason jars make great vessels to serve your dishes. They'll instantly make your picnic feel inviting while being much more eco-friendly than paper plates and plastic utensils.
3. Simple is best: Picnics are all about celebrating the outdoors and the seasonal produce of the warmer months. Choose fresh dishes that need little preparation and that will showcase the bounty of the season like crisp
crudités as well as items that can be enjoyed at room temperature (like our
Brown Rice and Grilled Vegetable Salad).
4. Aim for crisp: When making picnic salads, look for produce that won't wilt and quickly become limp. Instead of lettuce-based salads, opt for sturdy greens and veggies (like kale, asparagus, green beans and fennel) that will hold best when not being consumed right away. Dishes like
coleslaw, marinated kale or grain-based salads are great choices. The same goes for sandwiches: look for breads that have a robust crust, like ciabatta, baguette or sourdough.
5. Use your fingers: A picnic is the time to ditch the knife and fork! Dishes that can be eaten without cutlery will make for the most enjoyable experience so opt for or bite-size finger foods that are easy and fun to eat like
hand-held pies, cured meats and cut-up fruit.
Edamame, Red Pepper and Corn Salad photo by Ryan Brook/TC Media